When we think about patients getting vaginal rejuvenation treatments, most of us have a pretty narrow idea of who is or should be getting them. It’s a woman who has given birth vaginally and is close to middle age, perhaps older. But what about younger women? Or those who have never had children? Or mothers who have had C-sections?
Despite the stereotypes, the candidate field for vaginal rejuvenation is hardly so narrow, especially when looking at treatment with Intima.
What Vaginal Rejuvenation Is
To understand why so many women can benefit from vaginal rejuvenation, you need to know what it actually is. Essentially, it is a broad term that encompasses anything that helps to restore function or aesthetics to the female genital region — both internally and externally. This can include surgery, creams and nonsurgical treatments.
With that said, most people using the term intend to reference nonsurgical treatments, like Intima.
With Intima, an applicator is inserted into the vaginal canal or used to target the vulva, depending on which areas are meant to be treated. The applicator delivers laser energy to the targeted tissue, encouraging the body to remodel the collagen there. On average, patients need 3 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart to get the best results from Intima treatment.
Benefits of Vaginal Rejuvenation
Vaginal rejuvenation is best known for treating laxity of the muscles that form the vagina, which can develop as a result of childbirth, aging or pelvic floor trauma. However, it does more than that. With the right treatment, urinary incontinence can be corrected, collagen production can be stimulated, more lubrication can be produced for sexual intercourse and the labia can be tightened.
Many of these conditions are things women are hesitant to talk about, and patients often don’t realize that treatment is available to them until they’ve spent years living in shame. Intima allows women the chance to reclaim their sexual function, self-confidence and in some cases, their sense of dignity.
Compared to surgical intervention, it is more limited. Results are temporary without maintenance treatments, and it cannot fully remedy severe laxity or incontinence. However, it comes with major benefits over surgery, including no recovery period, save for taking about a week off from intercourse, and a much more affordable price tag.
Not Just about Sex
When talking about the genitals, it’s pretty much the first place the mind goes. And absolutely, vaginal rejuvenation benefits sexual health, performance and pleasure. But it’s more than that.
Vaginal laxity can cause difficulties for women, from being unable to use tampons to struggling with bowel movements. Long labia can become pinched when exercising and make it difficult to do things like wear smaller bikinis. Vaginal rejuvenation is about improving the patient’s overall quality of life — sex life included.
Ideal Candidates for Vaginal Rejuvenation
By understanding the benefits of Intima vaginal rejuvenation, it becomes clear that the field of ideal candidates for treatment is far from narrow. Because this vaginal rejuvenation is for inside and out, many women can benefit from it, not just mothers. Ideal candidates for treatment with Intima include women who have:
- Experienced pelvic floor stress during pregnancy
- Given birth vaginally
- Reached menopause or perimenopause
- Struggles with urinary incontinence
- Difficulty with bowel movements
- Concerns about the appearance of the vulva
- Long labia that is problematic when exercising or having sex
- Experienced pain during sex on a regular basis
- Struggled with lubrication on a regular basis
Doing Your Homework
Perhaps the biggest caveat to place on getting vaginal rejuvenation is to make certain you select a trustworthy provider. There are a lot of people offering these treatments, and many of them don’t have the right level of training to be using lasers on such intimate parts.
Look for certified laser specialists working under the guidance of a cosmetic surgeon. Make sure they are using a known technology, such as Intima. Don’t be afraid to ask for proof of board certification from the laser specialist and the surgeon. And, of course, look for online reviews to be certain their former clients are happy with their work.
In addition, take care to form realistic expectations for your results, especially as it relates to aesthetic concerns. While nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation has a lot of benefits, it isn’t a perfect replication of procedures such as labiaplasty. If there are severe irregularities or aesthetic concerns you want to address, it’s possible that laser treatments will only get your part of the way towards realizing your goals. Do some research to better understand what is and is not a reasonable expectation for treatment.
Caroll Delo is a board certified laser technician at Simply Smooth Laser Center in Tampa, a niche practice that focuses specifically on laser treatments. Simply Smooth Laser Center offers the most advanced options in laser hair removal, laser skin rejuvenation and laser tattoo removal.
